[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The prosecution investigating the lobbying and preferential treatment allegations related to the Daejang-dong development conducted intense interrogations of key figures involved in the allegations on the 10th, ahead of summoning Kim Man-bae, the major shareholder of Hwacheon Daeyu Asset Management (Hwacheon Daeyu).
The dedicated investigation team at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office re-summoned Yoo Dong-gyu, former Planning Director of Seongnam Urban Development Headquarters, who is currently detained on charges including bribery and breach of trust, from 2 p.m. the previous day until around midnight.
Former Director Yoo is accused of removing the clause for recovering excess profits from the Daejang-dong development project, allowing private operators to gain enormous profits, and receiving bribes worth hundreds of millions of won from Kim Man-bae, major shareholder of Hwacheon Daeyu, Jeong Jae-chang, a private operator in Wirye New Town, and Na, the representative of a civil engineering construction company.
The prosecution also summoned lawyer Jeong Min-yong, a close aide of former Director Yoo who had been involved since the early stages of the Daejang-dong development project.
It is reported that Lawyer Jeong submitted a written statement to the prosecution stating that "Former Director Yoo agreed to receive 70 billion won from Kim Man-bae and repeatedly said that Cheonhwa-dongin No. 1, a Hwacheon Daeyu affiliate, belonged to him."
Based on the statements and evidence obtained during Lawyer Jeong's interrogation, the prosecution appears to plan to focus on probing the substance of the alleged agreement with former Director Yoo. They will also be able to review the contents of former Director Yoo's mobile phone, which the police have secured.
According to Lawyer Jeong's defense counsel, there was no separate cross-examination between the two parties.
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